Behind The Curtain – UofA Speakers Conference Dec 4th, 2008

University of Alberta             Inside/Out Speakers’ Series Thursday December 4th, 2008 5:00-6:00pm

Behind the Curtain: Understanding Physical Transition and The Truth Behind Politics, Policy Development, and Its Impact Within Elite Sport

In this presentation, I explore the impact of being born as a gender variant child, my journey toward a complete physical transition, and my life as an elite professional gender variant athlete. I critique the “Stockholm Consensus”, which was presented to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Medical Commission in Spring 2004, as a means to allow transgendered athletes to compete in all levels of sport. I explore critically why the IOC felt the need to develop this policy and its ramifications for the international sporting community. To conclude, I articulate how policy ought to be supported scientifically, rather than premised in moral and political beliefs, which can have tremendous repercussions on athletes and athletics at all levels of the sporting community.
Published – December 2008